(a) For purposes of sections 10a-157a to 10a-157c, inclusive: (1) “Connecticut’s P-20 Council” means the state-wide council of educators, business leaders and civic officials formed by Executive Order Number 2A by Governor M. Jodi Rell in 2009 to build stronger ties among educators and policymakers at all levels of education in this state, from preschool to graduate school; and (2) “public institution of higher education” means those constituent units identified in subdivisions (2) and (3) of section 10a-1.

(b) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2014 for the Connecticut State University System and not later than the start of the fall semester of 2015 for the regional community-technical colleges, and for each semester thereafter, if a public institution of higher education determines, by use of multiple commonly accepted measures of skill level, that a student is likely to succeed in college level work with supplemental support, the public institution of higher education shall offer such student remedial support that is embedded with the corresponding entry level course in a college level program. Such embedded support shall be offered during the same semester as and in conjunction with the entry level course for purposes of providing the student with supplemental support in the entry level course.

(c) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2015 and for each semester thereafter, if a public institution of higher education determines, by use of multiple commonly accepted measures of skill level, that a student is below the skill level required for success in college level work with supplemental support, the public institution of higher education shall offer such student one intensive semester of remedial support that (1) is designed to provide such student with the knowledge and skills necessary to be placed in an entry level course in a college level program, and (2) such student may repeat subject to the public institution of higher education’s course repeat policy provided that such policy shall not prohibit a minimum of one repeat attempt.

(d) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2015 and for each semester thereafter, if a public institution of higher education determines, by use of multiple commonly accepted measures of skill level, that a student is below the skill level required for success in an intensive semester of remedial support, the public institution of higher education shall offer such student the opportunity to participate in a transitional college readiness program before the start of the next semester. Such student shall complete such transitional college readiness program prior to receiving embedded remedial support, as provided in subsection (b) of this section or intensive remedial support, as provided in subsection (c) of this section. The Board of Regents for Higher Education, in consultation with Connecticut’s P-20 Council and the faculty advisory committee to the Board of Regents for Higher Education, shall develop options for a transitional college readiness program.

(e) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2014 for the Connecticut State University System and not later than the start of the fall semester of 2015 for the regional community-technical colleges, and for each semester thereafter, each public institution of higher education shall offer only remedial support, including remedial courses, that is authorized pursuant to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section.

(f) In accordance with subsection (d) of this section and subsection (a) of section 10-69, the Board of Regents for Higher Education may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Education for the purpose of delivering a transitional college readiness program that will enable adults to enroll directly in a program of higher learning, as defined in section 10a-34, at an institution of higher education upon completion of such program.

(g) Not later than the start of the fall semester of 2014, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, in consultation with Connecticut’s P-20 Council, shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education regarding (1) its recommendations concerning the successful transition of adults returning to or first enrolling in a higher education program at a public institution of higher education after spending time in the workforce, and (2) the application of the provisions of sections 10a-157a to 10a-157c, inclusive, to each higher education program for students who are deaf or hard of hearing that is offered by a public institution of higher education.

(P.A. 12-40, S. 1; P.A. 14-217, S. 209; P.A. 17-202, S. 19.)

History: P.A. 12-40 effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 14-217 amended Subsec. (b) to extend implementation of embedded remedial support requirements to the fall semester of 2015 for regional community-technical colleges, added new Subsec. (c) re intensive semester of remedial support, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d) and amended same to change “2014” to “2015”, “college level work” to “an intensive semester of remedial support” and “intensive” to “transitional” and to add reference to intensive remedial support, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e) and amended same to add provision re extension of implementation deadline for regional community-technical colleges to fall semester of 2015, delete provision re remedial support not embedded with entry level course and add references to embedded remedial support, intensive semester of remedial support and transitional college readiness program, added Subsec. (f) re memorandum of understanding and redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (g), effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 17-202 amended Subsec. (g) to replace “hearing impaired or deaf students” with “students who are deaf or hard of hearing” and made a technical change.